Last updated: October 2021
A part refurbishment of a classic 1930’s building, the design of the Leeds Greenhouse embraces the history of the building. Along with rooftop wind turbines, solar panels, ground source heating, there are NBS advantages to the property, including central rain and greywater management facilities that support everyday living and working. It also installs nearby allotments as well as on-site shared gardens to help strengthen both the sense of community and sustainable consumption. (1, 2, 3, 6) The building comprises 172 flats and 15,000 sq ft of office space. (7) Even though the project was completed in 2010, the residents came together in 2018 to add 250 hedge-plants to the complex. (13)
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Overview
Nature-based solution
- Community gardens and allotments
- Allotments
- Community gardens
- Other
- Green areas for water management
- Sustainable urban drainage systems
Key challenges
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social cohesion
- Social interaction
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable consumption
- Sustainable production
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature, Transformation of previously derelict areas
Project objectives
The goal of the project was the refurbishment of part of a classic 1930’s building. Along with rooftop wind turbines, solar panels, ground source heating, central rain and greywater management facilities that support everyday living and working to make it a sustainable living residence complex for its inhabitants. It also installed nearby allotments as well as on-site shared gardens to help strengthen both the sense of community and sustainable consumption. (1, 2, 3, 6)
Implementation activities
Citu first identified the place as a base for an "environmentally friendly" housing and office scheme in 2004 the company worked with Leeds City Council to develop a scheme that should help to bring jobs and investment into the Beeston area. (4) Construction works commenced in 2007. (7) Citu worked with Leeds City Council and local community groups to develop a scheme which served to champion the regeneration of the area and to provide inspiration for the local community. The original form of the building was retained, with all non-structural walls cleared in order to create a new layout that would maximise the space available. Two floors were added to the existing structure along with an inner core which provided additional accommodation. (2) It was officially opened on 1st October 2010.
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Private sector/corporate actor/company
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Citu first identified the place as base for an "environmentally friendly" housing and office scheme in 2004 the company worked with Leeds City Council to develop a scheme that should help to bring jobs and investment into the Beeston area. (4) Citu worked with Leeds City Council and local community groups to develop a scheme which served to champion the regeneration of the area and to provide an inspiration for the local community. Citu also volunteered to make £250k of landscaping improvements to Beeston Road. Local firms were used wherever possible including interior designers and furniture manufartures (Paul Logan and Naughtone), architects (West & Machell and Sturgeon North), M&E (Woods NE), Data + Audio Visual (Finite Solutions), Client side builder (Gables), Landsacpe Architect (Estelle Warren) and Quantity Surveyors (Sum). All are Leeds based companies. (2)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Corporate investment
Type of funding
- Unknown
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
Economic impacts
- Attraction of business and investment
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved social cohesion
- Increased access to healthy/affordable food
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
(1) GreenMoves: eco homes. [no date]. Featured Green Developments. Source link [Accessed on 6 October 2020]
(2) Northern Design Awards. [no date]. Greenhouse Leeds. [Website unavailable in 2020]
(3) GreenMoves: eco homes. [no date]. Property Details. Source link [Accessed on 6 October 2020]
(4) The Yorkshire Post. (2009). Transformation for the 'dustbin of Leeds'. [Website unavailable in 2020]
(5) designcurial. (2011). Greenhouse office-cum-residential scheme in Leeds flaunts sustainable features. [Website unavailable in 2020]
(6) Baron, John. (2011). Slideshow: Leeds leads the way in stylish eco-living. Source link [Accessed 6 October 2020]
(7) Meinhold, Bridgette. (2010). Historic UK Hostel Turned Into Super Green Residential Housing. Source link [Accessed 6 October 2020]
(8) Shepherd, Kate. (2010). Green build for social housing. Source link [Accessed 6 October 2020]
(9) [no author]. [no date]. Policy Context. [Document Attached]
(10) Maida, Maxwell J. (2015). Case Studies: An update on the SPD. Leeds. Leeds City Council. [Document Attached]
(11) Buildecozine. [no date]. Projects: Lowest carbon living. Source link [Accessed 6 October 2020]
(12) Source link. (2007). 'Greenhouse' - South Leeds. Source link [Accessed 6 October 2020]
(13) South Leeds Life (2018) Greenhouse gets a bit greener with new hedgerows. Source link [Accessed 6 October 2020]
(2) Northern Design Awards. [no date]. Greenhouse Leeds. [Website unavailable in 2020]
(3) GreenMoves: eco homes. [no date]. Property Details. Source link [Accessed on 6 October 2020]
(4) The Yorkshire Post. (2009). Transformation for the 'dustbin of Leeds'. [Website unavailable in 2020]
(5) designcurial. (2011). Greenhouse office-cum-residential scheme in Leeds flaunts sustainable features. [Website unavailable in 2020]
(6) Baron, John. (2011). Slideshow: Leeds leads the way in stylish eco-living. Source link [Accessed 6 October 2020]
(7) Meinhold, Bridgette. (2010). Historic UK Hostel Turned Into Super Green Residential Housing. Source link [Accessed 6 October 2020]
(8) Shepherd, Kate. (2010). Green build for social housing. Source link [Accessed 6 October 2020]
(9) [no author]. [no date]. Policy Context. [Document Attached]
(10) Maida, Maxwell J. (2015). Case Studies: An update on the SPD. Leeds. Leeds City Council. [Document Attached]
(11) Buildecozine. [no date]. Projects: Lowest carbon living. Source link [Accessed 6 October 2020]
(12) Source link. (2007). 'Greenhouse' - South Leeds. Source link [Accessed 6 October 2020]
(13) South Leeds Life (2018) Greenhouse gets a bit greener with new hedgerows. Source link [Accessed 6 October 2020]
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